About the disease
A spinal tumor is a malignant formation that develops in the spinal cord or bones surrounding it. There are two types of spinal tumor: intramedullary and extramedullary.
Intramedullary tumors develop in the cells that are located inside the spine, while extramedullary tumors develop in the cells that surround the spinal cord. Spinal tumors can also develop in the vertebrae, which make up the back bone. In this case, the condition is called a vertebral tumor.
Symptoms
- Pain in the back
- Development of a lump or other abnormal growths
- Decrease of sensitivity in the limbs
- Nerve damage
- Problems walking, falling down suddenly
- Loss of bowel function
- Weakness
- Loss of muscle strength
- Stiffness in the spine
Although the cause of spinal tumors is still unknown, it is believed that a genetic predisposition plays the leading role in the development of this disease. Some inherited diseases, such as Hippel-Lindau syndrome, can also contribute to the development of a spinal tumor. A disorder of the immune system is also a risk factor.
According to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, it is quite rare to develop a spinal tumor, with 1 out of 140 men and 1 out of 180 women developing it during their lifetime. In the USA alone, almost 24,000 cases of this disease were recorded in 2016.
Diagnosis
- During a general examination, the doctor will determine your muscle strength, see if you have any abnormal spine curvatures and evaluate your reflexes. The doctor will also ask you to walk for a short period of time to see if you have an impaired gait, which is usually an indicator of a spinal cord tumor.
- Neurological tests can find out whether nerve endings in the spinal cord function properly and are sending the right signals to the brain. Such tests will also evaluate your motor skills and memory.
- An MRI and CT scan can produce precise images of your spine, which will determine the location of the tumor and the extent of its growth.
- A biopsy can determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
Treatment
- Surgical removal of the tumor is the best treatment option, as this condition cannot be resolved by conservative treatment alone. Surgeons will usually prefer to perform microsurgery, since it is less invasive than open surgery.
- A Gamma Knife can also be used to resect the tumor. Ionizing radiation is projected directly onto the damaged area of the spinal cord to destroy the tumor.
- Chemotherapy can also be used. Special agents are administered into the patient’s bloodstream that scatter and kill the malignant cells.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed
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